OLYMPIA, Wash., – The Washington Department of Ecology has adopted a rule necessary to carry out the state's Mercury-Containing Lights Product Stewardship Program.
Under a law passed in 2010, consumers of mercury-containing lights such as fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent bulbs will be able to recycle them safely, conveniently, and at no cost.
The law creates a producer-financed product stewardship program to collect, transport and recycle residential lights, beginning January 1, 2013.
As more people switch to energy-efficient lighting that contains mercury, disposal of these lights creates environmental problems. It's unsafe to discard burnt-out fluorescent lights in the trash. The law also makes this illegal beginning Jan. 1.
